PAP316 - Astrophysical light scattering problems

Advanced Course, 5 credits, PAP316, Spring 2021, Period 4

Astrophysical light scattering problems provides a cross-scale journey in light scattering (electromagnetic scattering) with a particular emphasis in applications. The course starts with an introduction to the basic concepts and computational methods, whereafter experimental measurements are assessed. Various applications are introduced for planetary system objects, interstellar and circumstellar dust, and exoplanets. Students are actively involved in the interpretation of spectroscopic, photometric, and polarimetric observations as well as laboratory measurements. The interpretation takes place using both laptop and supercomputing environments.

Lecturers: Prof. Karri Muinonen, Dr. Antti Penttilä, Dr. Anne Virkki.

Scope:

• Course information, 2021-05-04

Timetable and contents:

• Tue 16. 3. Introduction to photometry and polarimetry, Lecture 1a, Lecture 1b, Muinonen & Videen, JQSRT 2012
  
• Wed 17. 3. Experiments: introduction, photometry
• Tue 23. 3. Introduction to spectrometry; Mercury, Venus, and Mars, Lecture 3a, Lecture 3b
• Wed 24.3. Experiments: polarimetry
• Tue 30. 3. Project kick-off; Moon, Lecture 5a, Lecture 5b
  
• Wed 31.3. Experiments: spectroscopy, additional material from reflection spectroscopy (Office pptx, or mp4 video)
• Tue 13. 4. Asteroids, PolTrig fits to polarimetric datasets, Lecture7a
• Wed 13.4. Experiments: misc. topics
• Tue 20. 4. Comets, Lectures9ab
• Wed 21. 4. Interplanetary dust, Bagnulo et al. 2021, Lecture10b
• Tue 27. 4. Icy moons of the outer planets, Lecture 11a
• Thu 29. 4. Transneptunian objects and Centaurs, Lecture 12a
• Tue 4. 5.  Interstellar polarization, Lecture 13a
• Wed 5. 5. Exoplanets, Lecture 14a
  

Exercises:

• Exercise 1
• Exercise 2, Shkuratov et al., Icarus 1999, model for question 3-4
• Exercise 3, B&H Mie scattering program, SIRIS4-framework
  
  • SIRIS4: Clone using git: git clone https://bitbucket.org/planetarysystemresearch/siris4-framework.git, or Download repository from Bitbucket page
  • Compile using GNU maketools: "make singleparticle" or "make singletwolayer"
  • Both Mie program and SIRIS4 available on the virtual server at /opt/alsp/ex3

Project:

• Project description, 2021-04-23
• Coherent backscattering using Mueller matrix decomposition, DRAFT 2021-04-23
• Workshop, 2021-04-01
• Article recipe, 2021-03-18
• Relevant articles
  • Muinonen et al., MAPS 2009
  • Lumme & Muinonen, Poster, Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1991
• Relevant presentations
  • K. Muinonen, Astrophysics Seminar, May 7, 2021
• Software
  • Trigonometric polarization system, with systematic scanning  of exponents PolTrig
  • Multiple scattering based on radiative transfer with coherent backscattering, with scattering phase matrix decomposition RT-CB
• Revised examples of scattering phase matrix decompositions
  • Basalt
    
  • Feldspar
    
• Data
  • (1) Ceres Geometric albedo p = 0.090
    
  • (20) Massalia p = 0.210
    
  • (24) Themis p = 0.067
  • (44) Nysa p = 0.44
    
  • (55) Pandora p = 0.301
    
  • (64) Angelina p = 0.48
    
  • (419) Aurelia p = 0.0455
    
  • Mercury p = 0.142
    
  • Moon p = 0.136
    
  • Asteroid Polarimetric Database (NASA/PDS): https://sbn.psi.edu/pds/resource/apd.html
  • Granada-Amsterdam Light Scattering Database: https://www.iaa.csic.es/scattering/index.html

Home exam:

Link to the exam. The answers must be returned by Monday midnight, May 17, 2021 via e-mail. Remember to include your name and student identification number in your answers.

Past courses:

• Electromagnetic scattering II, fall 2018